In Leicestershire, they worked on reconditioning underwear and uniforms for servicemen, making munitions, building generators for searchlights, aircraft manufacture and making typewriters for use of HM Forces and Government offices, to name but a few of the roles they took on board.

Making binoculars for the war effort in 1941 at Rank Taylor Hobson in Leicester

In many cases, they had to combine long hours at the factory with their “jobs” as housewives and mothers.

Industries which for decades had been the sole province of men were suddenly opening their doors to female workers in a move that was to bring about huge long-lasting changes to the traditional roles of women.

Before the war, many women did not work or were employed in roles deemed to be “suitable” for females, including nursing, domestic servants, in shops and as teachers.

After the outbreak of war in 1939, the Government soon discovered that there were huge gaps to fill in the labour market and women were officially called up for war work from March 1941.

At first, only single women aged 20-30 were called up but, by mid-1943, almost 90 per cent of single women and 80 per cent of married women were working in factories, on the land or in the armed forces.